§ 45. Mr. T. Dribergasked the Prime Minister what representations have been received from the Government of the Union of South Africa concerning the transfer to the Union of the three British Protectorates; if, in order to safeguard the rights of the peoples of these territories, he will initiate a special consultation on this problem between the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and if he will reaffirm the undertakings given by previous Governments.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)No representations on this subject have been received by His Majesty's Government from the present Government of the Union of South Africa.
I do not consider it necessary to initiate the special consultation which the hon. Member suggests. His Majesty's Ministers are always in the closest contact with one another.
I can assure the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government consider themselves bound by the pledges concerning the future of these territories which have been made on many occasions during the past forty years by previous Governments. These pledges are that transfer of the Territories to the Union of South Africa should not take place until their inhabitants have been consulted and until 560 the United Kingdom Parliament has been given an opportunity of expressing its views.
§ Mr. DribergCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in order to allay the alarm created by many public statements made in South Africa, he will see that the consultation will be really effective consultation, and would indeed amount to the full consent of the peoples of the territories concerned?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the hon. Member, on reflection, will perhaps agree that when the position has been established for so long a period as 40 years, one should not go out of one's way to take the initiative in making a change in the situation.
§ Major Guy LloydIs it not a fact that alarm has not been created but has been engendered?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid that I cannot distinguish without some careful thought between the implication of the difference between created and engendered.